Not only is the man himself an outstanding guitarist who impressed an entire generation of shredders, and not only did Ibanez’s golden era, the early ’90s, give birth to some of the brand’s most significant signature models… Here and now, it’s above all the looks, qualities, and rarity of this 1992 Ibanez RBM-NT Reb Beach that make me shout “Rhâââââ Lovely…” So let’s shout together and not hold back those Pavlovian symptoms, foam at the corners of the mouth and drool running down to the floor. What a beauty this is!!!

A magnificent and rare 1992 Ibanez Reb Beach Signature RBM2NT has landed at Leadmusic, and it’s in excellent condition. This guitar, commonly called the “Voyager,” hasn’t traveled much, but there are a few small marks, light scratches, and slight playwear on the back, in short, traces of affection that reveal many hours of playing. This rare model immediately stands out thanks to its superb Hawaiian koa top with beautiful grain, giving it an elegant and high-end aesthetic. The body features a mahogany back, adding warmth, sustain, and tonal depth, perfectly balanced with the natural brightness of the koa. The koa on this instrument truly deserves special mention: the grain is striking, irregular, abundant, and the thickness of the top gives the instrument’s edges a completely wild look. What a successful combination this design is: mahogany back and figured koa top.

The neck is also a killer, made from Bolivian rosewood, offering remarkable playing comfort and excellent stability, while the Jim Dunlop #6130 frets ensure precise and enjoyable playability. The neck profile is excellent, rounder and fuller than most Ibanez guitars from that era. This is a real guitar, and Reb Beach clearly knew exactly what he was doing, the specifications are simply fantastic. The frets are in excellent condition, with only a few scattered marks betraying hours of playing. No deep grooves, no issues, the neck is perfect and allows all kinds of acrobatics: Lutz, triple Lutz, Axel… well, no…. Tapping, sweeping, dive bombing, barelyneedtuning, and louderplaying. What a marvel.

On the electronics side, this guitar is equipped with two EMG SA pickups in the neck and middle positions, delivering crystal-clear and very dynamic clean tones, while the EMG 89 humbucker in the bridge position provides powerful and precise distortion. Everything is controlled by a single volume knob with push-pull for humbucker splitting, complemented by an SPC circuit, offering great tonal versatility suited to many styles. The SPC, short for Strat Presence Control, is an active EMG mid-boost that doesn’t actually control your Strat’s presence but instead helps you destroy your drummer when he forgets he’s blasting 140 dB from the snare… Essential for metal and other high-gain styles. And since the Ibanez EDGE Floyd-Rose-style vibrato guarantees excellent tuning stability and allows you to do more than a Les Paul ever could, one might be tempted to overuse it.

This 1992 Ibanez Reb Beach Signature RBM2NT is a rare guitar that defined my teenage years. Some had posters of football players or English female singers on their walls, personally, I had photos of RBM2-NTs and other Ibanez guitars above my desk. And I failed my studies because of that. Well… very well, actually.

This rare gem comes with a mid-to-late ’90s Ibanez M100 case.